help for non sewer. I need to let down a skirt

[laedyfaire]

sad to say, I am not a sewer AT ALL! I found a neat skirt for faire at the salvation army and would like to take it down an inch. It has a nice almost 2 inch hem. I took it to a local seamstress and she wants 22 dollars. I only paid 2 bucks for the skirt, b/c of lack of funds. So paying that much is kind of out.

Is there anyway I can let down a hem without sewing. Is there a tape out there that holds up hems?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. LF

[isabelladangelo]

Yeap, hem tape:
http://tinyurl.com/3umejc

However, I think this would be far better as a learning experience and just thread a needle and sew it up by hand.  It might take you a while but not only will it last a heck of a lot longer (hem tape lasts maybe 10 washes) you can say you re-designed it yourself.   

Sewing is not that difficult.  There are even places you can get pre-threaded needles now.  With a hem, your stiches don't even have to be perfect.  Look up "whipstitch" on google for pictures of how to sew up a hem easily.  Everyone can sew, there are just some people who haven't tried yet.   

[Marietta Graziella]

An alternate idea to letting down the hem is to add a guard!  If you have any fabric on hand (or a friend has some) you could just sew it to the bottom for an added punch of color and some detail.  Whip stitch it on and Ta-dah!  You've just learned to sew!

[gem]

I've successfully used hem tape (I like Steam-A-Seam brand, which is available at JoAnn and Hobby Lobby) to hem mundane clothing--particularly knit pants--that I'm too scared to sew on (trying to get over this. LOL).  A skirt I would probably sew, though, just because it is--as Isabella says--truly not that hard.

The first thing you'll need is a seam ripper:

Plus a pack of hand-sewing needles (don't do what Milord did and get machine needles by mistake.  ), some pins, some all-purpose thread, and a ruler.  I HIGHLY recommend an iron for this project, as well.

Start by looking at the hem (which you've done).  Chances are, if it's a mundane garment, the hem has been serged (will look like this).  Insert the pointy end of the seam ripper between the hem edge and the garment, and carefully slice through the stitches holding them together.  When that's done, pick or brush away all the little loose threads you've just made.

See if you can use one of the remaining fold lines for a guide.  Take the skirt to your ironing board and press it so it's smooth, and so the higher fold line is completely gone, and the lower fold line is still visible (depending on what the skirt is made of, these fold lines may never entirely disappear--in which case you'll have to decide if you still want to wear it like that.  One option would be covering up the fold line with some trim or ribbon.

Grab your pins.  Fold up the edge along the lower fold line.  Press.  Carefully fold the raw edge under one more time (you'll be folding downward into the fold you've just made).  Press and pin in place.

Then go at it with the needle and thread!

**
Milord just did his first sewing project (at the age of 37), and one of the things he really struggled with (besides, um, picking the right needles) was knotting the thread, and also pulling it through the fabric smoothly.  Those of us who've been sewing our whole lives forget that those aren't intuitive skills!

Good luck!

[laedyfaire]

Thank you Thank you! I was thinking about adding a piece but that will definitely require sewing..BUT I just might actually try the needle and thread thingy...if I chicken out it is great to know that there is tape out there! Fantastic...thanks again...LF